Polymeric batten for load strapping and spacing

ABSTRACT

A polymeric batten for supporting an associated load includes a main body having a base wall having a pair of opposing, spaced apart upstanding side walls extending upwardly from the base wall and a pair of opposing, spaced apart legs extending downwardly from the base wall. The legs are spaced from one another a predetermined distance and the side walls are spaced from one another a predetermined distance. The upstanding side walls and base wall define a generally U-shaped profile and the legs and base wall define a generally inverted U-shaped profile that defines a strap receiving region configured for receiving an associated strap material disposed around the load and the batten. A load strapping and supporting system is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a polymeric batten. Moreparticularly, the present invention is directed to a polymeric battenfor placing between loads or between a load and a surface to permitstrapping around the load and the batten.

Battens are often used under a load or package to support the load andto provide a channel or track through which strap is positioned forstrapping or bundling the load. Battens also elevate or lift the loadto, for example, permit the tines of a forklift or fork truck under theload to raise and move the load. Battens are used to support andfacilitate moving material such as sheets of plywood and oriented strandboard (OSB).

Battens that are presently used are made of wood. A center longitudinalchannel is routed in the batten and the batten is placed with the planar(non-routed) side in contact with the load. The load is then strapped(i.e., secured with strapping material) with the strap traversingthrough the channel. In this manner, the load is elevated from thesurface on which it rests (of a load below), the load is supported bythe batten and the strap is protected from damage from below. Thisarrangement permits the use of fork tines (from a lift or truck) formoving the load.

One drawback to wood battens is that they can be inconsistent. That is,the wood can be warped and split, and the sizes of the battens can vary.Typically the battens are inserted in an automated process and as suchthe inconsistent (e.g., warped or split) battens can result in jammingthe loading machines.

Accordingly, there is a need for a consistently formed or profiledbatten. Desirably, such a batten is light-weight and cost effectivecompared to wood battens. Most desirably, such a batten facilitates usein an automated loading process.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A polymeric batten is used for supporting and facilitating the bundlingof an associated load. The batten includes a main body having a basewall having a pair of opposing, spaced apart upstanding side wallsextending upwardly from the base wall and a pair of opposing, spacedapart legs extending downwardly from the base wall.

In that the batten is formed form a polymer (plastic) it is consistentlyformed or profiled, by fabrication, for example, in an extrusionprocess. As such, the batten is light-weight and relatively inexpensiveto produce. Also, because the batten is consistent in its manufacture,it readily lends itself to use in an automated loading process.

The legs of the batten are spaced from one another a predetermineddistance and the side walls are spaced from one another a predetermineddistance. In one embodiment, the predetermined leg spacing is differentfrom the predetermined side wall spacing.

The upstanding side walls and base wall define a generally U-shapedprofile and the legs and base wall define a generally inverted U-shapedprofile that defines a strap receiving region configured for receivingstrap material that is disposed around the load and the batten.

In a present batten the legs are spaced a distance greater than the sidewalls. Most preferably, the side walls include means for receiving thelegs of a nested, like batten, such as notches formed in an outersurface of each side wall that are configured for receiving the legs ofthe nested, like batten. The legs and walls can also be configured suchthat they are not spaced differently from one another.

One embodiment of the batten includes an intermediate support legextending downwardly from the base wall, between the legs, to define apair of side-by-side strap receiving regions. Alternately, theintermediate support element can be a wall extending upwardly from thebase wall, between the side walls.

The batten can be formed from a polyolefin and is preferably formed fromrecycled materials.

The legs have a height measured from the base wall to a free end that isless than a height of the walls measured from the base wall to a freeend.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction withthe appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become morereadily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art afterreviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stack of sheet material having a pairof battens embodying the principles of the present invention positionedunder and supporting the load;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective and cross-sectional views of oneembodiment of the batten;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective and cross-sectional views of analternate embodiment of the batten; and

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective and cross-sectional views of the battenof FIGS. 2A and B shown in a nested configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in variousforms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be describeda presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention andis not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodimentillustrated.

It should be further understood that the title of this section of thisspecification, namely, “Detailed Description Of The Invention”, relatesto a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply,nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein.

Referring now to the figures and in particular to FIG. 1, there is showna stack of sheet material M (such as 4 foot by 8 foot sheets of plywoodor oriented strand board (OSB)) that is supported by a pair of battens10 embodying the principles of the present invention. The material Mstack can be quite heavy and generally difficult to handle due to thesize and bulkiness of the load L. Strap material S encircles the batten10 and the load L to secure the batten 10 to the load L.

In order to facilitate lifting and moving the load L, it is desirable toelevated the load L sufficiently to permit the tines of a forklift orfork truck under the load L (between the load and the ground or betweenthe load and next lower load, for example if the load is stacked). Knownwood battens elevate these loads to permit moving the load. However,because these battens are made from wood, they can be inconsistent,vis-á-vis warping, bending, splitting and the like. It will beappreciated that these inconsistencies can cause problems when usingthese battens in automated loading operations. It has been found thatautomated loading machines can jam or otherwise require additionalmaintenance when low quality battens are used.

The present polymeric battens 10 overcome the problems of know battens.The illustrated battens 10 are formed from polymeric materials, e.g.,plastic, rather than wood. The battens 10 can be formed from a varietyof materials, such as polyolefins, for example, polypropylene,polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride or other readily available materials.It is anticipated that the battens 10 will be manufactured fromprincipally recycled materials, such as polyethylene terephthalate orpolyvinyl chloride to provide an economic benefit (e.g., lower cost) aswell as lessened environmental impact.

The battens 10 are formed as dual, opposing channel members. A main body12 has an upper portion 14 that defines a U-shaped channel 16 that isformed by a base wall 18 and opposing, upstanding side walls 20 thattogether define the “U” channel 16. In the embodiment of FIGS. 2A,B and4A,B, the lower portion 22 is formed by a pair opposing, downwardlyoriented walls 24 that extend from the base wall 18 and define outersupport legs. The legs 24 have a height h₂₄ that is less than the heighth₂₀ of the side walls 20. Thus, the legs 24 are shorter than the upperside walls 20 are high. Accordingly, the U in the upper portion 16 isdeeper than the inverted U of the lower portion 26. The inverted U 26defines a strap receiving region 28.

The junctures of the side walls 20 and the base wall 18 and the legs 24and the base wall 18 are rounded, as indicated at 30, to facilitatemanufacture and to provide additional materials at the high stresspoints (e.g., the corners) of the batten 10. In this embodiment, anadditional support leg 32 extends downwardly from the base wall 18intermediate the outer legs 24. The intermediate leg 32 in turn definesa pair of lower, inverted U-shaped channels 26 a,b.

The upper walls 20 have a stepped or notched profile 34 formed on anouter surface 36 of the walls 20. The step or notch 34 is dimensioned,as at d₃₄ to correspond to the space between the inner surfaces of theouter legs, as at d₂₆. In this manner, the battens 10 nest with oneanother (e.g., stack), as seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B, to facilitate storageand shipping of the battens 10. Accordingly, the dimension d₁₆ acrossthe upper portion U channel 16 is slightly less than the dimension d₂₆across the lower portion U channel 26.

The outer surface 36 of the upstanding side walls 20 and the legs 24 arecontiguous. A longitudinal recess 38 is formed in the outer surface thatcorresponds with that portion of the outer wall that spans the upperside walls 20, the legs 24 and the base wall 18.

FIGS. 3A,B illustrate a batten 110 that does not include theintermediate support leg. This embodiment of the batten 110 can be usedfor lesser weight loads. Nevertheless, this embodiment 110 includes thestepped wall 134 configuration to permit stacking or nesting of thebattens 110. A single strap receiving region 128 is defined by thesingle inverted U channel 126.

Advantageously, the present batten 10, 110 provides a light-weight, costeffective solution to inconsistent, warped, broken and split woodenbattens. The batten 10, 110 thus permits use with automated loadingsystems, without the attendant problems of jamming and the like observewith inconsistent wooden battens. The polymeric batten 10, 110 can beformed from recycled materials to reduce any adverse environmentalimpact. The battens, whether the heavy-weight supporting embodiment 10,or the light-weight embodiment 110, can be stacked for ease oftransport, storage and use. It will be appreciated that because of theconstant cross-section of the battens, the manufacture of the battens10, 110 can be readily carried out in any of a number of ways, such asby an extrusion or like process.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the battens 10, 110 can beused with all types of material, other than the illustrated sheetmaterials, such as structural steel shapes (angle iron, channels,smaller weight T and I beams), extruded aluminum and the like. It willalso be understood that the battens 10, 110 can be formed without thestacking capability, and as such, the walls 20, 120 and legs 24, 124 maynot have different spacings. It is also contemplated that the battenscan be used in a flipped orientation in which the U channel 16 is usedas the strap channel and the inverted U channels 26 a,b are adjacent theload L (the walls 20 are thus oriented downward and the legs 24, 32 areoriented upward, toward the load L). The embodiment 110 of FIGS. 3A andB can be likewise used in a flipped orientation.

All patents referred to herein, are hereby incorporated herein byreference, whether or not specifically do so within the text of thisdisclosure.

In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken toinclude both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference toplural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular.

From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications andvariations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit andscope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to beunderstood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodimentsillustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure isintended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fallwithin the scope of the claims.

1. A polymeric batten for supporting an associated load comprising: amain body having a base wall having a pair of opposing, spaced apartupstanding side walls extending upwardly from the base wall and a pairof opposing, spaced apart legs extending downwardly from the base wall,the legs being spaced from one another a predetermined distance and theside walls being spaced from one another a predetermined distance thatis different from the distance the legs are spaced from one another, andwherein the upstanding side walls and base wall define a generallyU-shaped profile and wherein the legs and base wall define a generallyinverted U-shaped profile and defining a strap receiving regionconfigured for receiving an associated strap material disposed aroundthe load and the batten.
 2. The polymeric batten in accordance withclaim 1 wherein the predetermined leg spacing is different from thepredetermined side wall spacing.
 3. The polymeric batten in accordancewith claim 2 wherein the leg spacing is greater than the predeterminedside wall spacing.
 4. The polymeric batten in accordance with claim 1wherein the side walls include means for receiving the legs of a nested,like batten.
 5. The polymeric batten in accordance with claim 4 whereinthe receiving means is a notch formed in an outer surface of the sideconfigured for receiving the legs of the nested, like batten.
 6. Thepolymeric batten in accordance with claim 1 including an intermediatesupport element extending from the base wall from about an intermediateportion thereof.
 7. The polymeric batten in accordance with claim 6wherein the intermediate support element is an intermediate support legextending downwardly from the base wall, between the legs to define apair of side-by-side strap receiving regions.
 8. The polymeric batten inaccordance with claim 6 wherein the intermediate support element is anintermediate support wall extending upwardly from the base wall, betweenthe side walls.
 9. The polymeric batten in accordance with claim 1wherein the polymer is a polyolefin.
 10. The polymeric batten inaccordance with claim 1 wherein the legs have a height measured from thebase wall to a free end of the legs that is less than a height of thewalls measured from the base wall to a free end of the walls.
 11. Thepolymeric batten in accordance with claim 1 wherein the batten is formedfrom recycled material.
 12. A load supporting and strapping systemcomprising, in combination: a polymeric batten having a main body havinga base wall having a pair of opposing, spaced apart upstanding sidewalls extending upwardly from the base wall and a pair of opposing,spaced apart legs extending downwardly from the base wall, the legsbeing spaced from one another a predetermined distance and the sidewalls being spaced from one another a predetermined distance, andwherein the upstanding side walls and base wall define a generallyU-shaped profile and wherein the legs and base wall define a generallyinverted U-shaped profile and defining a strap receiving region; and astrap disposed around the load and the batten, the strap positionedwithin the strap receiving region and around the load, encircling thebatten with the load.
 13. The load supporting and strapping system inaccordance with claim 12 wherein the batten includes an intermediatesupport element extending from the base wall from about an intermediateportion thereof.
 14. The load supporting and strapping system polymericbatten in accordance with claim 13 wherein the intermediate supportelement is an intermediate support leg extending downwardly from thebase wall, between the legs to define a pair of side-by-side strapreceiving regions.
 15. The load supporting and strapping systempolymeric batten in accordance with claim 13 wherein the intermediatesupport element is an intermediate support wall extending upwardly fromthe base wall, between the side walls.
 16. The load supporting andstrapping system in accordance with claim 12 wherein the batten isformed from recycled material.
 17. The load supporting and strappingsystem in accordance with claim 12 wherein the predetermined leg spacingis different from the predetermined side wall spacing.
 18. The loadsupporting and strapping system in accordance with claim 17 wherein theleg spacing is greater than the predetermined side wall spacing.